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Recent content by Gamma1214

  1. Gamma1214

    Mysterious Island Emerges in Canadian Lake, Disappears, Reappears

    Those are some pretty big trees. I'd still want to know where it goes when it disappears before I camped on it. Bermuda triangle's been pretty quiet lately but I'd hate to find out that it just relocated beyond 50° N latitude.
  2. Gamma1214

    Info on Chivelston, Harris & Harold Lakes outside Wabakimi?

    Incidentally, I found out, today, that outfitters cannot (probably) reserve blocks of tickets. VIA rail tickets are non-transferable so the outfitter would have to have the client's name before booking. Of course, there are ways around that... I've reserved a ticket for May 31st to take me...
  3. Gamma1214

    Lifting Canoe Packs Safely

    I pretty much do it like Alan states above. I'll land however I can, grab one end (lifting it out of the water) and pull it onto shore. I don't (usually) beat the crap out of the boat intentionally but I have been known to drag it through a portage that's particularly long or swampy. The port...
  4. Gamma1214

    Lifting Canoe Packs Safely

    No suggestions about lifting the packs but... Could be. Mine aren't rentals (but they don't cost thousands of dollars either) and I beach 'em regardless of conditions (I prefer sand but it ain't a deal-breaker). I think it would take a liquid lava shoreline to wet foot in waist deep water...
  5. Gamma1214

    You know its been too long since your last canoe trip when..

    ...When you've stared at maps so long that you've memorized them and you still need to postpone "one more year".
  6. Gamma1214

    Info on Chivelston, Harris & Harold Lakes outside Wabakimi?

    Update in case anyone is interested: I canceled the train tickets this morning and VIA says that I can reserve tickets for next year 10 months in advance. I'll be calling them the 2nd week of October and doing this loop in 2027. It appears that I'll be spending about 3 days in the recent...
  7. Gamma1214

    Questions and requests for advice as I'm starting out

    You do you but bear in mind that someone will have to have their nose within a foot of your bow to get the view that you show in your last picture. If they're THAT close, they'd better be inspecting for purchase while holding a fat roll of cash or asking questions about your process in...
  8. Gamma1214

    Questions and requests for advice as I'm starting out

    Lookin' good. IME, that's the best way- "just do it" As for varnish, that varies for me. I'm under the impression that the epoxy should harden a few (like 5ish) days before varnishing so, if I'm into other things, I'll let it sit & then sand and (sometimes) varnish before flipping. If I'm...
  9. Gamma1214

    Show us pictures of your canoe vehicle with boat(s)

    Glad you were able to make the trip. Did you install hood loops, were they already there or did you use something that simply clips on?
  10. Gamma1214

    Is it time for skid plates (see pics)?

    Personally, I wouldn't be adding one to the bow until you've got enough wear that you actually need it but I wouldn't be spending time trying to remove the one that's already on there. Just paddle the crap out of it and see if you can wear through it. That'll let you see what's under it and...
  11. Gamma1214

    Lightweight Lining Ropes

    I've started using 1/4 inch braided polyester rope for painters and just cut the 100 ft roll in 1/2. It doesn't add much weight but I'm not certain that it floats either. Alternatively, I've used 1/8 inch diameter paracord which weighs (practically) nothing and I always have lots of it around...
  12. Gamma1214

    17' Old Town wood/canvas derelict (well maybe)

    Wait... that works?... The tape sticks well enough to the wood that it acts as a single lamination? I wouldn't have expected that. I would have thought it would yield a very thin canoe wrapped (somewhat loosely) around a wooden canoe shell. Interesting...
  13. Gamma1214

    17' Old Town wood/canvas derelict (well maybe)

    I just checked in before heading to the new job. Today was a 5am start driving a 45 ft, 50+ passenger commuter bus into downtown Pittsburgh. It's a little unnerving in downtown traffic but I figure people value the paint on their car more than I hate filling out the incident reports so I seem...
  14. Gamma1214

    17' Old Town wood/canvas derelict (well maybe)

    Look Bill, I know nothin' about wood/canvas boats but I agree 100% with Jim. It's the perfect boat to learn on because you can't make it worse than it already is (although I suspect that it'll look better once the canvas & rotted wood are removed). Honestly, the front deck (with sticker) looks...
  15. Gamma1214

    Crossing into Canada with bear spray and knives?

    That's a pretty effective deterrent. Personally, I don't carry any of that anyway. The pocket knife I always have on me & bear bangers (which can usually be purchased en route after crossing). I'm unsure about the fire hazard aspect but I just checked the park website and you're not allowed to...
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